Why get rid of fat soluble toxins?

Most of what is in our body is either water soluble or fat soluble. If the body is exposed to water soluble toxins it easily eliminates them with the kidneys and the sweat glands flushing them from the body in our urine and sweat. Fat soluble toxins (xenobiotic compounds) are not so easily eliminated. Let us follow the lifecycle of these compounds. Fats are broken down by the bile that is secreted from the gallbladder and absorbed through the intestinal villi into the lymphatic tissue. It is here that most of white blood cells reside and respond to toxicity. If the cell junctions in the small intestines are tight large molecules are not able to pass through the cell wall into the lymphatic tissue and these larger fat soluble molecules continue down the line into the large intestine. The bile follows it down and absorbs the fat soluble toxins and they are eliminated into the stool making the stool a dark brown color. When the bile does not bind to the toxins and they are not eliminated with the stool then body recycles them back up into the liver. If the liver becomes overwhelmed these toxins can squeeze their way into the blood stream. It is from here that they are able to bind to the existing fat cells. So what is the big deal about fat soluble toxins? The National Health Adipose Tissue Survey (NHATS) samples fat cells in the US and found over 20 toxic chemicals in a regionally diverse sample of the population. Since the green revolution and better living through chemicals in the 1940’s many fat soluble chemicals have been introduced into the environment and thus the food chain. Many of these are foreign to the detoxification pathways of the body and so the body is unsure how to respond and will store them in the fat cells. If the toxins are in the body for a short period of time then it is unlikely that they will do much harm, but when they are stored in the fat cells their effect on the body is not positive. As they continue to accumulate the oxidation and free radical damage that they cause can lead to metabolic and systemic dysfunctions. The systems that are most strongly affected by these toxins are immune, neurological, and endocrine systems. When these systems are compromised it leads to: · Immune dysfunction such as: o Autoimmune diseases o Asthma o Allergies · Cancers · Cognitive deficits · Mood changes · Neurological illnesses · Changes in libido · Reproductive dysfunction · Glucose dysregulation A survey of these chemicals done by NHATS found an alarming level of these xenobiotic compounds in our fat cells. Chemicals such as OCDD (a dioxin) and solvents: styrene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, xylene, and ethylphenol were found in 100% of the population at a range of 57.4-6,350 ng of toxins per gram of fat. Additional chemicals such as benzene, toluene, chlorobenzene, ethylbenzene, one furan, three dioxins, and DDE where also found in above 91% of the population at toxic levels. Unfortunately these chemicals are pervasive as they are found in our food, air and water. Although it is important to reduce exposure by choosing nontoxic building materials, household cleaners, personal care products, and organic fruits and vegetables it appears that this may not be enough. I don’t want to scare you but it is important to take precautions and perform seasonal rituals that can help to unburden the body from this toxic load. One such example would be an Ayurvedic cleanse that allows the body to burn fat thus decreasing the toxic load that is in the body. By maximizing the effectiveness of each of the processes at each stage of fat metabolism and removal, then we can reduce this load. In an ayuvedic cleanse we focus on decongesting the lymphatic tissue to reduce the load on the liver and we destagnate the bile so that it can remove these toxins before they find their way into the bloodstream. Then we create a concentration gradient in the digestive tract whereby the toxins stored in the fat cells are leached into the digestive system and eliminated through the colon. When this process is complete we gently restore harmony and balance to the body. If you are experiencing any of the above diseases this may be an effective approach for you. Environmental Medicine, Part 1: The Human Burden of Environmental Toxins and Their Common Health Effects by Walter J. Crinnion, ND, Alternative Medicine Review, Volume 5 Number 1, 2000, page52 Remove Toxins from Your Fat Cells by John Douillard, Online, posted on Nov. 12, 2009.

This website is based on the opinions of Noah Volz and/or Rhythm of Healing, unless otherwise noted. The information is presented for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe, nor to prevent, treat, mitigate or cure such conditions. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information here is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.